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W. T. JOHNSON.

APPARATUS FOR DUPLIGATE WHIST. No. 555,903. V Patented MaIzB, 1896.

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ArnNlr IVILLIAM '1. JOHNSON, OF \VASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

'APPARATUS FOR DUPLICATE WHIST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 555,903, dated March 3, 1896. Application filed $eptember 19, 1895. Serial No. 563,046. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM T. JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Vashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Duplicate VVhist and other Games of Cards, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to apparatus for the separate segregation, identification, and preservation of the different individual hands in games of playingcards for purposes of overplay, being particularly but not necessa rily adapted to the playing and overplaying of cards in the game of duplicate whist. Heretofore in apparatus of this character much difficulty has been experienced by reason of the imperfect action of the holders which have been provided to retain the individual hands in separate packets. W'here elastic bands have been used for that purpose upon the surface of the trays, the cards are liable to slip endwise out of the retaining-bands, and this liability is largely increased with use, as the hands soon become permanently stretched and the rubber of which they are partly or entirely composed constantly deteriorates. Elastic bands or other springs which have been used to retain the cards in separate packets also cause injury to the edges and surface of the confined cards. It is desirable, also, as in these games ordinarily a series of hands are played, that the upper and lower surfaces of the different trays should not be uneven, so that when piled up, one on top of another,they will form a compact mass. Each tray should be distinctly marked, as is generally done by giving to each a number of its own, and also in such a way as to insure the separate trays to be placed in the proper position both for the play and overplay.

Referring to the drawings, wherein thesame indicating letters and numerals point out the same parts in each figure, Figure l is a view in perspective of the apparatus, showing the upper surface thereof, in which one compartment entirely incloses one hand or packet of playing-cards, another compartment being shown from which a hand has been partially removed, the remaining com partments being empty. Fig. 2 is a plan View of the apparatus with the upper cover removed, showing the upper interior of the bottom piece and the partitions and side walls which form the four compartments.

A is the bottom plate, provided with the semicircular finger-holes 1 2 3 4, cut out of the edges of each side midway between the partitions of the compartment.

13 is the upper plate, provided with the rectangular openings 5 6 7 8. Interposed between the bottom and upper plates are the partitions 9 10 ll 12 and the side walls 13 let 15 16. Aline bisecting the rectangular openings of the upper plate, B, coincides with a line bisectin g the semicircular opening in the bottom plate, A. Said side walls where they project over the ends of the separate compartments furnish stops, which prevent the cards in the compartments from falling out. Each tray should have a serial number,.which may be placed either on the bottom plate or' the upper plate, as may be desired. The upper plate is provided with a star 17 or other suitable device, the same being marked upon it near to one edge, and also the word Lead, 18, printed thereon near one of the compart ments. In each set of four trays this word Lead will be found opposite different compartments with reference to the indicatin star 17. Of such a series (which may be indefinitely duplicated) tray No. 1 has the word opposite the compartment next upon the left of the indicating-star, tray No. 2 upon the second compartment therefrom, tray No. 3 upon the third compartment, and tray No. 4 upon the fourth compartment.

I do not confine myself to any particular materialin the manufacture of the apparatus. The upper and lower plates may be of paste or card board and both they and the interposed partitions and side walls maybe made of wood, celluloid, or sheet metal, or of those or other materials in Whole or in part, the essential feature being preserved-namely, the formation between the upper and lower plates by means of the partitions and side walls of a series of consecutively-marked horizontal compartments into which the hands of cards to be segregated, identified, and preserved for purposes of subsequent overplay can be readily placed, where they are loosely retained within the said compartments by the interposed partitions and side Walls, the cards being held in a horizontal position by the upper plate and prevented from falling out of the trays by the portions of the side Walls which partially close up the ends of said compartments and so that when the cards are required for play or overplay they may be readily removed, the finger-holes in the lower plate permitting the taking hold of the packet and bending its outer edge upward and Withdrawing it through the rootangular opening in the edge of the upper plate.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. An apparatus for the segregation, preservation and identification of the different, individual hands of playing cards for the purpose of subsequent overplay, consisting of a tray composed of a bottom plate and an upper plate, With interposed partitions and side walls, dividing the space between said plates into a series of horizontal compartments, Wholly closed upon their sides and inner ends,

and partially closed at the edges of said tray by the said sidewalls, the cards being adapted for removal through openings in the upper plate partially covering the several underlying compartments as and for the purpose stated, substantially as described.

2. A tray for the purpose set forth consisting of the plate, A, having the semicircular recesses, 1, 2, 3, 4c, in its edges, the superimposed plate, B, having the rectangular openings, 5, 6, 7, 8, With the described interposed partitions and side Walls, forming a series of horizontal compartments, closed at their sides and inner ends a portion of the side Walls forming a partial closing of the outer end of said compartments, substantially as described.

3. A tray for the purposes set forth consisting of a tray having a series of compartments, in the same plane partially closed at their tops closed at their sides and inner ends and partially closed at their outer ends, for holding cards Within said partially-inclosed compartments, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

VVI-LLIAM T.

Witnesses:

A. G. SAFFORD, HENRY W. REED.

JonNsoN. 

